It has been said that you should go somewhere you have never been each year. I don’t know who said it, but I agree with it. I love going somewhere that is new to me; it is like a big adventure. When I was very little, my mom used to take us to new places. They were always shopping related, but it was a great adventure while dad was at work.
Recently, I went to Nashville, Tenn., on business and got to see just enough of Nashville to know that I want to go back on my own. Fortunately I had the opportunity to tour one of the most beautiful hotels, The Gaylord Opryland Hotel/Resort; what a place. Their website says, “during downtime, enjoy our Opryland hotel’s 9 acres of lush indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls, or unwind in Relâche Spa & Salon, our on-site spa offering massages, facials and more. Our Nashville resort also offers 600,000 square feet of event space for meetings, conferences, weddings and receptions.” I understand that at Christmas time it is a beautiful wonderland. I’m ready to go back right now.
Someone who was on our business trip said the room rate was $300 to $400 per night, but I found some great deals on line for a two-night get away, so don’t believe what you hear; do some research. There are 17 dining opportunities within the resort. We chose Jack Daniels and it was a great choice. I had a collard green and white bean stew with cheddar cheese corn bread. Some of my co-workers went downtown for dinner and ate at a chain that we have right here in Pittsburgh. Why? If you are going away find new experiences.
I have to thank our drivers at the Hotel Preston, both were great tour guides and made suggestions on where to go and drove us straight there. I was in Nashville on BB King’s actual birthday and we dined at the B.B. King Club and Restaurant. His band played and it was a great time. There were plenty of clubs and shopping in the area, and several stores featured buy one, get two free cowboy boots. There were cowboy boots and cowboy hats everywhere you looked and I wanted some, but I wanted to make a more informed purchase and did not want to carry three big boxes home on the plane.
Speaking of the plane, Nashville is one of the few places that you can get a direct flight to from Pittsburgh, oh the wonder of not changing planes. When I go back, I want to see Meharry Medical College, the Fisk University Historic District and the Alex Haley Museum. There are also several websites that feature things that African-Americans would enjoy like the African Street Festival that takes place on the campus of Tennessee State University in September. When it comes to vacations I am not a beach person, this is my type of trip seeing historic places and touring interesting places. Nashville here I come.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
